MORE than seventy ash trees on the National Trust Kingston Lacy estate near Wimborne are to be felled over the next two years.

The trees are at a dozen locations, including close to Pamphill Dairy, Hound Hill and Chilbridge Lane with four of the trees off a footpath leading from the Queen Elizabeth School.

The largest area of felling, of about forty trees, will be around Tadden Bends on the B3082.

All of the trees are included in a recent notification to Dorset Council with the Trust saying that, overall, more than 200 trees on the estate have been identified in the annual Ash Dieback Survey with the 70 notified to the council which are the most urgent for felling as they are close to either houses, other structures, roads or footpaths.

It is expected that the estate will replant with alternative species as part of their overall, long-term management of the Kingston Lacy Estate.